Here's To... My Mobile Camera

Here's To... My Mobile Camera

A big shout out here to my mobile camera (as if my phone cares), which I love for moments like these:

1.  My sweet boy and I at the park on Friday.  It was beautiful, and since I'm up before the sun on M,W,F these days to work out, 9:30 didn't seem so early to get a little running around in.  Dekker is so big, he showed himself all around the park, and particularly enjoyed the stairs on the jungle gym.  He got so far up that he just went right down a slide, for the first time, and all by himself.  He landed in a puddle of water and I rushed off the jungle gym and ran around just in time to "catch" him, which he didn't need anyway.  He also enjoyed the swings much more than he has in the past, thank goodness.

2.  My sweet dog Josie at the park.  She is a much (much, much, much) better "family dog" than I ever envisioned and loves walks.  So Dekker and I took her with us to the park, where I just dropped the leash and let her explore around.  She is fantastic, and comes running every time I call her name.  She never got too far away from us and had a fun morning, too. 

3.  The Shellac manicure I am loving.  I love it so much that I could create an entire post just to it.  Finally, a tasteful manicure on my real nails, that looks great and doesn't chip, doesn't damage the nail or nail bed and lasts for at least 14 days.  I feel professional and put together!  I get mine at Blonde Salon, in case you're wondering, and it comes in several colors including the "neutral" that I got.

Welp, that's enough for a random Saturday night.  My lover-boy just got home with sushi so I am signing off!!

On the journey,
Mae

Here's To...My New Sunglasses

Here's to... my new sunglasses.
(I'm not posting this on fb, this is a special little "extra" to my "regulars.")
They are prescription.  This means I can see when I drive, and when I'm out on a walk.
They are stylish.  If you disagree keep your opinion to yourself.
They were $60 bucks.  Can you hear the angels singing?  Suz and I found a steal of a deal at Eye Masters, two pair for $99 (and you could combine two different prescriptions).  My frames were $10 more than the special, so I paid the difference. 

So far, I have been loving them.

Less than flattering picture, just focus on the shades, okay!

I have been wearing them on my way home from... bootcamp.  It's so stinking early that the sun is just coming up.  More on that after I have at least a week under my belt :)

On the Journey,
Mae

Here's To... Road trips

Here's to... Road trips.

I love road trips.  I think they are one of the most fun things we can do with friends, spouses, family, etc.  Now, clearly I understand that road trips with the wrong people can be a disaster (hello being stuck in a car with someone you can't stand)... but with the right people they are a great distraction from the demands of everyday life, and a great time to squeeze in a little "windshield time" with the people you love.  I love road trips with Dave because we get to talk and talk... and talk.  And read each other facebook and twitter updates.  And dream about owning a business or our next house or expanding my counseling practice.  We recently took a rather lengthy road trip to Colorado.  We went about 90 miles past Denver to our family reunion.  That's 9 hours driving, plus stops.

Our first stop was in Lincoln to drop some stuff off for the JDRF garage sale.  We got there about 9:45AM.  We left about 11.   Hahaha.  The morning was almost over and we were 60 miles outside of town. But what's the hurry!?!?  We might have been earlier had we not stopped for donuts and coffee on the way out of town (another reason I love road trips!).  Then, we stopped outside Grand Island to eat.  By the time we left there it was easily 1:00 and we weren't even 120 miles from home.  Seriously, we were enjoying one anothers company so much we knew it was all good.

 This is me, at the rest stop in GI.  I was so relaxed, so thrilled to get away and go to the reunion.  If I had a third hand it would have been patting myself on the back for getting this lunch packed and not eating fast food, which I love, but makes me feel awful when it sits in my stomach for the next 12 hours.

 

These are pictures of my sweet boy, eating like such a big boy at the rest stop.  "Normal" food that wouldn't cause gastro issues for him, either :)  Then stretching his legs before the next "stretch."

I love playing with Dekker on road trips.  He is adorable.  I love how much fun he is!  He giggles at anything and totally occupies himself.  (Last year on this trip he occupied himself by crying for 13 hours and we took the wrong interstate outside of Denver, but we don't talk about that.)  This year was a different story...

 

 

We made it to the reunion in great time.  We cut the drive home up by stopping in Denver for a night.  On our way home Tuesday we had another great day... starting it the right way...

With Coffee....

And a little local produce shopping (don't worry, we shared)...

And we finished the trip with more dreaming out-loud, playing with Dekker, long stops to stretch 

our legs and make memories.  

 

For some reason at this stop, Dekker could not stop trying to get something out of Dave's pocket.  

We're still not sure what?!?

I have always wanted to open a monument store--  Dave just listened to me dream and dream, asking me question after question, even encouraging me at one time to start writing stuff down.  We talked about software that needs making :) and our sweet boy, who we can't believe is growing up so fast.  We talked about if he needs a brother or sister (and no, we're not pregnant, not trying, but considering).  I don't know how many times we turned to one another and said, "How did he get so big?"

 

 

 

And instead of continual crying... this year our little boy even slept a little...  

How adorable is he?!?

Though I love road trips, and all they are to my life, I must admit that they make me very tired.  Here is what I looked like by the end of the trip!

Thankfully, this little sign kept me laughing the last several hours home!

(It was a lie, by the way.)

On the Journey,

Mae

Here's To... Family Camp

Here's to the 39th annual Soden Family Camp.  Basically, family camp is a family reunion hosted by my dad and his seven siblings at a place we love named Camp Colorado.  It has been going on for so long that it is one of the most beloved traditions in my life.  All growing up, I have spent nearly every Labor Day with these wonderful people-- talking, making memories, spoiling one another's kids, eating waaaay too much.

Here's to the amazing amount of food that we have at Camp Colorado.  It is delish.  Everyone brings their own treats, then each family takes over the kitchen for one meal. 

One of the three coolers full of food and ingredients.

Thanks Marcy Rowe for your fantastic recipe.  They were a hit.

One of the very special meals at camp is Chicken and Noodles.  This recipe makes me think of my Grandma and I miss her so much!  This is Dekker's first Chicken and Noodles meal.  I think he liked it!

Here's to relaxing days in the gazebo.  And horse shoe tournaments.  And volleyball games.  And nature hikes.  Here's to a nature hike where you get to show your son "Dino Rock" for the first time-- the same rock that you and your family and cousins used to walk up to every year.  Here's to the "Chapel."  I love that place-- an outdoor chapel with a big log for a podium.  My grandpa used to take my cousin and I up there to "play church."  (That memory makes me smile so much.)

I took this picture to memorialize that Dave and I did in fact get past the first round in horse-shoes!

Do you think Dave is napping here?!?

"Dino Rock."  Can you see how it has a painted face?

 

Here's to bathing your son in the same sink you were bathed.

 Here's to cousins.  And fun aunts and uncles.  And grandparents who love their kids and grand-kids so much.  Here's to my cousins, who love my husband and son so much.  Here's to the fact that our saying is "there are no in-laws, we're just family."  (Though Dave likes to call himself an "outlaw.")  Here's to my cousin, Lindsay, who devoured my son and loved me up with encouragement all weekend. 

Cousins in matching Husker shirts!  Dekker was on the verge of such a pout here!

Aunt Amy and Dekker having some fun!

Dekker and Grandpa playing.  Check out those shoes!

There are 78 Soden's, and 63 made it.  Another great weekend of family, no TV's, no cell phones, no internet, no alcohol, and lots of great people.  Here's to an incredible, healthy, wonderful tradition.

 On the Journey,

Mae

Here's To... Our Daycare Friend

Here's to... our daycare friend. 

I never knew if I would work or not when we had kids.  Honestly, all my life I have gone back and forth on this.  There were times in my life when I thought I would never work when I had a family and that I would do whatever it takes to stay at home 100%.  Then, there were times when I was pretty sure that to be the best mom I could be, that I would work 100% of the time. 

Then, I had a baby.  And who cares what I used to think!  Everything changed.  I worked at the hospital 4 days a week when I had Dekker.  I thought I owed it to my colleagues to at least try and go back.  So I did.  And after 3 months I was pretty sure that I didn't want to haul my newborn around four days out of the week, especially if we didn't need me to work that much.

About 6 weeks back to work I started taking Dekker to our friend's house on Tuesday's and Thursday's.  I was "setting the stage" that if I did quit-- and let's be honest, I was pretty sure I was going to-- that I would already have stable daycare for a more part-time gig.  And if I didn't, I was thrilled to have him in her home and not at the hospital daycare (though I missed my "lunch partner" on those days).

Here's to Leigh.  We didn't know what to call you when we met you.  Our "Daycare Lady?"  Too formal.  Our "Babysitter?"  Too informal.  Over the last year we have gladly settled on "Our Daycare Friend." 

Here's to one of the only other women in Dekker's life that he will reach his hands up toward in a crowd.  Here's to Leigh-- you filled a spot in my life that I didn't even know was vacant-- you have been an incredible "Mom Friend" to me.  You have been someone to talk to about sleep and naps and poop and starting solids and weaning.  You give my son baths (after you clean up things that shouldn't happen!).  You rock him to sleep.  You have watched him learn to roll over, crawl, walk, and run.  You have comforted him when he was sick.  You now know more about milk allergies than you ever wanted!  You somehow found a pitch black area to nap him in!  You have spent hours listening to me talk and comforting me while I cried-- this motherhood thing can be hard!  Life can be hard!  How many times did I drop Dekker off, then sit on your couch and borrow your ear while our kiddos played on the floor?  You are a tremendous mom.  But you are also a fantastic friend.

It feels like yesterday that our kids were this little!

Now, they are this big... and they are (kissing) friends!

Here's to your sweet girl.  I laugh out loud remembering when she learned "eye" and nearly poked Dekker's eye out for a straight month.  Sweet thing.  She is so petite, so totally adorable.  I love holding her because she feels like a pillow compared to the brute.  I love that she says "Dekket?"  I love, love, love dropping Dekker off in the nursery and watching them recognize each other.  Here's to more play-times, fun weekends at the lake, loving on your new niece together.  Here's to crashing random apartment pools next summer, too.

Here's to the new chapter in both our lives.  You are going back to work as a nurse.  You will get to take care of the families of so many people.  Just like our family, theirs will be blessed by you.  You are tender, caring, patient.  You have never been my nurse but I just know that you are great.  We cried when you told me.  Here's to crying with your Daycare Friend!  You are more than "daycare" to our family.  My heart breaks thinking about sweet Dekker not starting his Tuesday's and Thursday's opening the cabinet under your TV and pulling out his favorite toys.  There is something incredibly indescribable about watching another woman care for your child.  You have done us well.  And I am a hard critic!

Here's to our new daycare friend, Laura.  Laura, you have big shoes to fill.  But you are experienced.  You are fun.  You know Christ in your heart.  When I prayed to God that somehow through our "childcare crisis" we would find a fit where we would be blessed, and be a blessing-- we found you and praised God for an answered prayer!  We're looking forward to our playdate in a few weeks.  Thanks for serving God, and opening up your family to ours.

I'm trying to keep it together.  I'm trying not to awkwardly "count down" the days.  I'm trying not to make a big deal out of "lasts".  (Though today I talked to Leigh on the phone and she was charging up her video camera and camera in preparation for her final month with Dekker!)  I am crying right now-- I cry every time I think about this.  I'm not scaring Dekker forever, right?  He'll transition alright, right?  From one excellent home to another, for a grand total of 16 hours or less a week.  

When I have daycare issues or a sick kid I always question if I should work.  But I love my little job, my small caseload and the one credit hour I am teaching at Grace University (I spend more time driving there than I do teaching there :).  Counseling is a joy, and a challenge.  It is a ministry to hurting people!  I have wrestled with this issue of working and boundaries and balancing work and family so much-- especially recently--, and at least for now, following His lead means driving my little car to my office two days a week.

Here's to the journey of motherhood.  Here's to the women in my life who step in to care for the most precious treasure I have and in the process bless the socks off my family.

On the journey,
Stef

Here's To... ... Community

In an effort to be a little more organized and consistent here in blogger-world, I am starting today a several part (code: no clue) blogging topic titled "Here's To."  Each post will "salute" something new, and today's post gives a big shout out to... community.

I love Rick Warren's book... Better Together.  I must give him credit for my understanding of the word community, and for urging me to "dig in" to community.  And I thank God (and Rick) that I did.  We are much better people... together.


"We long to belong.  The church is not something we go to, rather it's something we belong to-- a family of God's people.  It's more than an organization, more than an institution, even more than a group of like-minded people.  This sense of family togetherness allows us to create authentic Christian community... ..."

Our church did a 40 day study of Warren's "Better Together" in 2005.  Because I was on staff I was asked to lead a small group.  I did so reluctantly.  I was a full-time graduate student, working part-time and planning a wedding.  But Dave and I did it.  Six years later, small group is still a huge part of our lives, and we cherish the... family... we have found there.  And, while our church and small group is a major source of community, our community goes deeper than that.  Our other brothers and sisters, some who come to church and some who don't, come along side us in life and serve an incredible, unique purpose.

Here's to some of our best friends, Steve and Suz.  Six years ago I called Suzanne.  We both remember that call.  I was merging onto I-680 off Fort and she was on break at a diabetes conference.  She agreed to "try" our small group.  She showed up and I, oddly, had mono.  It was her first taste of being my personal PA.  She met her husband Steve in our small group.  We were in the wedding party.  And we've never looked back.  Eventually, we all loved "community" so much that we couldn't keep it to ourselves, so they "birthed" their own small group, and now dozens of new friends have entered our world through their group and ours.

Here's to incredible accountability in our marriage.  Here's to "Friday Night Friends."  Here's to friends that we can cry with, and for, and who cry for us.  Here's to two people who we have gone to hell and back with.  They would do it for us.  And someday-- do you know what-- they will.  That's how life works, dog-gone-it.  Here's to the several other friends who fill the holes in our lives, who could fill the pages of this post if I only had the time (and pictures!).

Here's to all the people in our life taking on the joy of raising babies... together.  Here's to people that we can talk to about diapers and discipline, anxiety and guilt, and a love that we never knew was possible.  Here's to people who understand "keeping my identity" and "being great parents" and knowing that they conflict sometimes, but not always.  Here's to the dream that our kids will grow up with friends who we love and know. 

Maybe these two will be prom dates!

Here's to another best-friend, Auntie Beth.  I have always referred to her as my sister, so she automatically became an Auntie.  We met at church camp in the late 90's.  Did you know she beat my parents to the hospital the morning after Dekker was born?  Yep, she did-- latte in hand.  She is an incredible friend, and accountability partner, and sister in Christ.  Here's to fabulous people, like Beth, who love Dave and me, and who love our baby.

David and I love our actual, blood-born families.  So, so much.  (Stay tuned for a Here's To to them.)  But we aren't co-dependent on them.  Meaning we know that they can't meet all our needs.  That's a lot to put on any one group of people.  And that's why we live in community.  That's why we open the book of our lives to the people God has put in our path-- no matter their last name.

Many of you read this blog.  Most of you I did not mention by name.  But we love you.    We love, love, love you.  We love "doing life" with you.  We love the everyday.  We love small group dinners, holding your kids, hearing about your families.  And we love bringing you meals, celebrating your new job, seeing your new house.  We're honored when you tell us your struggles.  We're honored that you want us to be a part of your everyday, too.

"We love because God first loved us."  1 John 4:19.

Bless you!
On the journey.
Mae

Skip In My Step

Just a quick post as I figure "blogger" out.  I am just so overjoyed today to say that I am feeling so much better.  I really feel like I am coming out of a FOG of mono and this last summer.  What a drag, man.  I honestly want to be mad at someone that this awesome summer, and such a fun age of Dekker, was somewhat tainted with mono, a sinus infection, 3 ear infections, pink eye, and a throat/tongue infection.  And that was just me.  Dekker was sick with me almost step for step-- now leading his doctors to think that he possibly had mono, too.  But hope is on the horizon.  I don't feel COMPELLED to sleep all afternoon.  I love a good nap, trust me, but I was literally falling over on the couch during Dekker's nap and sleeping for HOURS.  Now, I don't really even sleep during the day-- I more "rest."  Sometimes I do have bad days, and I think it takes me longer to recover from big weekends (like Women of Faith).  But that's manageable.  Yes, this could have been a better summer-- but we still had lots of great memories and this, too, is a part of our story and will be a "remember when" soon enough.

I worked out Monday night.  It was great.  And I just got home from a behind kicking again.  Thank you sweet hubby for putting Dekker down so I could scoot off to the gym 30 min before nap time.  (One more reason I love a "work from home" Dad.)  I cussed the teacher out in my mind about 20 min in.  That's how I know it's a serious work out.  (Smile-- I really don't cuss.  But I get pretty dang mad!)

Off to clean up this house, do some work (oh maybe, drag), and get myself together so Dekker and I can run some errands this afternoon before a fun weekend, which I'm sure I will tell you all about soon.

On the journey,
Stef